Enantioselective Synthesis of Natural Polyoxygenated Cyclohexanes and Cyclohexenes from [(p-Tolylsulfinyl)methyl]-p-quinols

Electrochemical Dearomatizing Methoxylation of Phenols and Naphthols: Synthetic and Computational Studies

The electrochemical oxidative dearomatizing methoxylation of phenols and naphthols was developed. It provides an alternative route for the preparation of methoxycyclohexadienones, important and versatile synthetic intermediates, that eliminates the need for stoichiometric high-energy chemical oxidants and generates hydrogen as a sole by-product. The reaction proceeds in a simple constant current mode, in an undivided cell, and it employs standardized instrumentation. A collection of methoxycyclohexadienones derived from various 2,4,6-tri-substituted phenols and 1-substituted-2-naphthols was obtained in moderate to excellent yields. These include a complex derivative of estrone, as well as methoxylated dearomatized 1,1'-bi-2-naphthols (BINOLs). The mechanism of the reaction was subject to profound investigations using density functional theory calculations. In particular, the reactivity of two key intermediates, phenoxyl radical and phenoxenium ion, was carefully examined. The obtained results shed light on the pathway leading to the desired product and rationalize experimentally observed selectivities regarding a side benzylic methoxylation and the preference for the functionalization at the para over the ortho position. They also uncover the structure-selectivity relationship, inversely correlating the steric bulk of the substrate with its propensity to undergo the side-reaction. Moreover, the loss of stereochemical information from enantiopure BINOL substrates during the reaction is rationalized by the computations.

Diastereoselective Construction of Fused Carbocyclic Pyrrolidines via a Copper-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Cycloaddition: Total Syntheses of Pancratinines B-C

A Cu-catalyzed diastereoselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-arylaziridines and cyclic silyl dienol ethers was developed to efficiently construct fused-[5,n] carbocyclic pyrrolidines, which are widespread in bioactive natural products. Mechanistic studies revealed that the high diastereoselectivity of this transformation arose from a sequential retro aza-Michael/epimerization/aza-Michael process. Taking advantage of this newly developed method, the first total syntheses of pancratinines B and C were concisely realized.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of 10-Desoxy Analogue of a Previously Reported Natural Peroxyguaidiol

Described herein is an enantioselective synthesis of an analogue of a previously reported guaiane endoperoxide isolated from aerial parts of Croton arboreous. The polycyclic framework of the target structure was constructed with the C-7 stereogenic center derived from L-(-)-carvone and other stereogenic centers installed via substrate chirality-induced asymmetric reactions, starting with the synthesis of the seven-membered ring through regioselective enolization of carvone, ring-expansion, and installation of a conjugated C═C bond. Further functionalization was then achieved through regioselective enolization, triflation, and installation of an isopropenyl group. During the synthesis, some exceptions to the well-known rules of "thermodynamic control" and "kinetic control" in enolization of asymmetric cyclic ketones were observed. In construction of the bridged five-membered and endoperoxy rings, a peroxycarbenium [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with alkenes was carried out with several alkenes-silyl-gem-dihydroperoxides of different relative configurations. However, no expected [3 + 2] products were observed. Finally, the five-membered ring was smoothly installed through an intramolecular Darzens reaction, and the peroxy functionality was introduced via a carbon-centered radical-mediated reaction with triplet oxygen, followed by an intramolecular etherification under acidic conditions. Comparison of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the synthetic analogue and the natural product revealed that the latter was definitely not an endoperoxide.

Synthetic Study Aiming at the Tricyclic Core of 12-epi-JBIR-23/24

The synthetic study toward highly enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of the tricyclic framework of 12-epi-JBIR-23/24, a natural product analogue showing inhibitory activity against four malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines, is presented herein. In this synthesis, a rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric three-component Michael/aldol reaction introduces three consecutive tertiary carbon centers, while the unique epoxyquinol core motif is successfully forged via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of an allylic xanthate, vinylogous Pummerer rearrangement, and a selective mesylation/epoxidation cascade of a triol.

A divergent strategy to synthesize gabosines featuring a switchable two-way aldol cyclization

Gabosines and their natural analogues, belonging to C7 carbasugars, have attracted great attention in synthesis due to their rich structural variety and promising biological activities. A new diversity-oriented approach for the gabosine-type carbasugars based on a tunable regioselective aldol cyclization of flexible precursor 2 is explored. Two cyclization modes (A and B) of the precursor can be well controlled by switching promoters to selectively produce two resulting cyclohexa(e)nones 3 and 10, both of which are versatile intermediates for various C7 carbasugars. After the conversion of 3 to eight natural carbasugars, the utility of intermediate 10 is illustrated by the first synthesis of (-)-gabosine L, as well as the new synthesis of (-)-gabosine A, (-)-gabosine B, (-)-gabosine N and (-)-gabosine O. The chemical structure and the absolute configuration of (-)-gabosine L are confirmed by its total synthesis.

Daryamide Analogues from a Marine-Derived Streptomyces species

Three new cyclohexene amine derivatives, daryamides D-F (1-3), a new arylamine derivative, carpatamide D (4), and a new ornithine lactamization derivative, ornilactam A (5), were isolated from the marine-derived Streptomyces strain SNE-011. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. The carpatamide skeleton could be considered as the biosynthetic precursor of the daryamides.

Phosphazene-catalyzed desymmetrization of cyclohexadienones by dithiane addition

We report a desymmetrization of cyclohexadienones by intramolecular conjugate addition of a tethered dithiane nucleophile. Mild reaction conditions allow the formation of diversely functionalized fused bicyclic lactones. The products participate in facially selective additions from the convex surface, leading to allylic alcohol derivatives.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (-)-Hedycoropyrans A and B

The first and asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-hedycoropyrans A (1) was accomplished in 18 steps with 5.4% overall yield. The key features of our strategy include (1) construction of the unusual trans-2-aryl-6-alkyl tetrahydropyran core via Achmatowicz rearrangement, Zn-mediated reductive deoxygenation, and Heck-Matsuda coupling reaction, and (2) installation of 3,4-anti-dihydroxy from the corresponding 3,4-syn-dihydroxy THP through chemo- and regioselective IBX oxidation and Evans-Saksena reduction. In addition, C2 epimerization of (-)-hedycoropyan A (1) under the acidic condition furnished (-)-hedycoropyan B (2) with 71% yield. This finding might suggest the biogenetic origin of hedycoropyran B.

Asymmetric transformations of achiral 2,5-cyclohexadienones

Cyclohexadienones are versatile platforms for performing asymmetric synthesis as evidenced by the numerous natural product syntheses that exploit their diverse reactivity profile. However, there are few general methods available for the direct asymmetric synthesis of chiral cyclohexadienones. To circumvent this problem, several researchers have developed catalytic asymmetric methods that employ readily available achiral 2,5-cyclohexadienones as substrates. Many of these reactions are desymmetrizations in which one of the enantiotopic alkenes of an achiral dienone is transformed. Others involve selective reaction at one alkene of an unsymmetrically substituted, achiral dienone. This review will cover advances in this area over the last 20 years and the application of these strategies in complex molecule synthesis.

Antileishmanial metabolites from Geosmithia langdonii

Antileishmanial bioassay guided fractionation of Geosmithia langdonii has resulted in the isolation and identification of two new compounds (1 and 2) together with 10 known compounds (3-12). The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated based on comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data as well as mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration at C4, C5, and C6 of 2 was determined as R using a modified Mosher esterification method and NOESY correlations. The extracts and the isolated metabolites were evaluated for their antileishmanial activities. Compounds 3, 9, 11, and 12 were found to be active against Leishmania donovani with IC50 values of 6.9, 3.3, 8.5, and 9.2 μM, respectively, while compounds 1, 5, and 10 showed lower activities against L. donovani with IC50 values of 13.0, 47.3, and 34.0 μM, respectively.

Toward synthesis of carbasugars (+)-gabosine C, (+)-COTC, (+)-pericosine B, and (+)-pericosine C

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-gabosine C, (+)-pericosine B, and (+)-pericosine C has been reported from readily available d-(-)-isoascorbic acid and d-ribose involving Grubbs ring closing metathesis, Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction, and Luche reduction.

Stereoselective synthesis and relative configuration assignment of gabosine J

The first total synthesis of (+)-gabosine J and that of the epimer at C4 of its enantiomer have been accomplished through an enantioselective approach from a common intermediate 1. These syntheses have allowed us to establish the correct relative configuration of the natural metabolite, which was originally misassigned. This work, together with our former syntheses of other gabosines and related compounds, validates enone 1 as a general synthetic precursor for this kind of carbasugars.

Efficient, scalable asymmetric synthesis of an epoxy quinol via Noyori desymmetrization of a meso diketone

Epoxy quinol 1a was prepared on a multi-gram scale by Noyori transfer hydrogenative desymmetrization of the readily available meso epoxy diketone 4. Although the intrinsic enantioselectivity for the desymmetrization was modest (82:18 er at 4% conversion), a highly enantiopure product (99.6:0.4 er) could be obtained in one operation in 44% yield via kinetic resolution of the minor enantiomer with long reaction times (48 h), or in 73% yield by combination with an enzymatic resolution of a 93:7 er mixture.

Exploring Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions of p-quinols

The Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of p-methylquinols with activated aromatic aldehydes has been studied. Depending on the reaction conditions (solvent and additives), three different products were formed. A mono or double Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct and a fused 1,3-dioxolane could be obtained in good chemical yields. The use of non-nucleophilic bases to promote the reaction suggested an autocatalytic mechanism.

Carbocyclization of carbohydrates: diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-gabosine F, (-)-gabosine O, and (+)-4-epi-gabosine O

Exploitation of silica gel/chloramine T mediated intramolecular nitrile oxide-alkene cycloaddition (INOC) of sugar-derived oximes to carbocycles furnished the first synthesis of gabosine F from l-arabinose in 12 steps with 23% overall yield, thereby confirming its absolute configuration. Similarly, efficient syntheses of gabosine O and 4-epi-gabosine O were accomplished from D-mannose in 9 and 11 steps with 41% and 38% overall yields, respectively, involving INOC, regioselective dehydration, and diastereoselective hydrogenation as the key steps.

Facile syntheses of (+)-gabosines A, D, and E

(+)-Gabosines A (12), D (4), and E (5), which share the same trihydroxycyclohexenone skeleton, were synthesized from enone 11 as the common intermediate. The key building block 11 was accessed by an intramolecular aldol cyclization of a diketone derived from D-glucose (8).

Stereocontrolled approach to phenyl cyclitols from (SR)-[(p-tolylsulfinyl)methyl]-p-quinol

Reactions of enantiopure (SR)-[(p-tolylsulfinyl)methyl]-p-quinol with ArAlMe(2) reagents allowed a highly diastereoselective 1,4-addition of the aryl group with an efficient desymmetrization of the prochiral cyclohexadienone moiety. The asymmetric synthesis of phenyl-substituted polyoxygenated cyclohexane derivatives was achieved by combining this reaction with a stereoselective reduction and elimination of the beta-hydroxysulfoxide, after oxidation to sulfone, to recover a carbonyl group, and a stereoselective epoxidation.